BirchBox – October 2014

Here is my BirchBox for October 2014. My mind was so occupied with our recent move to Chicago I forgot I had a subscription box!

Here are my initial impressions of the products:

Atelier Cologne – Love the fragrance, slightly woody and intense on my skin. However the lasting power will decide if this will truly be my winter scent.

Dr. Brandt – Skeptical about this one, swatched a tad on my hand. It has waxy look but gel texture with a cooling sensation on my skin. Don’t know how would it vacuum my blackheads <clueless shoulder shrug>

Lord & Berry – Mehhh just an eye pencil with glitter.

ModelCo – OMG love this lipstick! Perfect shade, MLBB (my lips but better) shade. It says its a matte lipstick but my lips are not dry or cracking at all. Lurve!!!

Toni & Guy Shine Gloss – For me this was the star product of the box. Used one pump on ends of my hair, instantly nourished dry ends, smells wonderful and not offensive at all. Will purchase full size.

xx

HHW.com

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Birchbox – September 2014

Whoooop Whooooop…….my favorite time of the month when I receive a package from Birchbox.

Avene Cleanance Soap Free Gel Cleanser – I have always adored Avene brand and loved their spray water (can’t remember the sophisticated name of it). Anyway yet to try this one, will get back to you in few days.

Harvey Prince Hello – Emmmmm don’t know. Smells nice but disappears in an hour. Seriously?!

Macadamia Professional Healing Oil Spray – LOVE I have been wanting to try this product for a while and now I don’t know why I waited this long. Easy spray, light weight oil and my dry ends thank me for this.

Temptu Highlighter – WHAT? WHY? Birchbox seriously look at my profile before you send me stuff like this! This one was epic fail.

Tocca Crema da Mano – Me limey, needed hand cream for work and this is good option. Doesn’t leave my hands with greasy feeling that my finger slips off the keyboard…you know what I mean Jelly Bean 😉

Chapstick Hydration Stick – I haven’t tried yet, will get back to you and lets see if it makes itself to my Lip Balm Trail.

What do you think of this box? Could they have done better?

xx

HHW.com

My Thoughts: Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

I received a deluxe sample size from my monthly Birchbox subscription. I love some enzyme action on my skin (Read More Here) and therefore this product got me all excited.

The product is white thick paste with super micro exfoliating granules (almost feels like sand). Vasanti claims it provides similar effect of microdermabrasion therefore aluminum oxide crystals listed as second ingredient. After massaging on skin for couple of minutes, you can really feel the gentle grittiness. Then emulsify with water and you have some form of lathering action. Loved the whole process however it left my skin feeling tight, dry, stripped of natural oils and worst of all consistent use over 2 weeks broke me out.

So I investigated further into the ingredients and below is breakdown of what each ingredient does:

Please note: I’m not a chemist, this is plain internet research to conclude why my skin reacted.

Aqua (Water), Aluminum Oxide (used for Microderm procedure), Cetyl Alcohol (organic alcohol), Decyl Glucoside (foaming agent for sensitive skins), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (lathering agent- can cause irritation), Glycerin, Propanediol (viscosity controlling agent that can cause irritation), Panthenol (skin conditioner-form of B5), Emulsifying Wax NF(derived from plant- or petroleum-based wax converted into an emulsion with the aid of added detergents.), Glyceryl Stearate (lubricant and slows loss of water from skin), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (essential fatty acids for skin), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil (not good for acne prone skin), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate (form of vitamin e made with natural vitamin e and add acid), Papain (papaya enzyme), Parfum, Phenoxyethanol (preservative-not irritating), Caprylyl Glycol (conditioner and moisturizer that helps increase the shelf life of a product).

After analyzing this in detail, I realized it has some irritating ingredients. In addition, papaya enzymes is listed as 4^th last ingredient which really disappointed me. Considering name of product I expected papain to be 2^nd or 3^rd ingredient. It’s a shame because I really enjoyed using the product.

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator – $34

xx

HHW.com

Birchbox – august 2014

I received my August Birchbox this week and I’m pretty excited to try these products.

Initial Thoughts:

Caitlyn Cosmetics Cleasing Balm – its heavily fragranced but it sure is pleasant fragrance!

Juliette has a gun – quite an interesting name, however fragrance is pleasant. yet to test its lasting power which could be deal maker or breaker for me.

Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow – Its great as base to my Rodial BB Skin Venom Tint

Model Co Shimmer Bronze – slightly muddy on my skin, however if I mix with Mac Peachtwist looks darn good!

Supergoop Hand Cream SPF 40 – Haven’t tried the product yet however it will be making its way to my car soon. the idea of having spf hand cream when driving makes lot more logical sense to me.

Have you tried any of these products? what do you think of em?

xx

HHW.com

Unsung Heroes

So we try new products every now and then but then some products continue to work tirelessly in the background without much limelight or acknowledgment or appreciation. I’m not referring to products we road test and write reviews about. These heroes quietly work away in background without whom we may find ourselves handicap to carry out our daily menial skincare and makeup tasks.

So here’s a list some of my absolute Super Heroes without whom all the new lovely skin or hair care products would lose its charm!

• Muslin Cloth – Sheer Awesomeness to remove makeup with balm or oil cleanser
• Flannel/Face Cloth – same as above and also steam my face to open those pores and thoroughly clean them. This method is such a source of relaxation….Nirvana (refer to Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm review)

• Shampoos I don’t like for my mane – just because they dint cut it for my tresses they move onto next most important thing, cleaning my makeup brushes. Not only they smell great, it cleans them thoroughly, conditions the bristles and mostly doesn’t make my frugal ass feel guilty of wasting a product!
• Cotton tips or Q tips – to smudge eyeliners/shadows, blend eyeshadow, cleaning or sharpening lines around eyes (yes strong winged liner, I’m talking to you) and bleeding lips (not literally…obvs!)
• Paw Paw ointment – dry or cracked lips, heels, elbows, knees, cuticle, burns, rash you name it.
• Birchbox Boxes or Shoe boxes – helps me organize small sample sachets, sample pots, travel stuff etc
• Sample containers – once the sample is tried tested or plain thrown, I thoroughly wash the containers and use them when I travel. Small, light, portable and can squeeze only as much I need for a trip!
• Tweezers – my BFF…need I say more?

I’m probably still doing them injustice by grouping them in one post, but let’s vow to start here and I shall continue to deliver them persistent words of appreciation, kindness and glorify them till cows come home!

My life without you fellas is incomplete and dysfunctional. Just because I don’t say love you every day doesn’t mean I don’t value your existence in moi life. Know this in your heart till your last breath, I have always and will always love you, admire you, respect you and cherish you till my last breath.

<Completely carried away with emotions…>

xx